The Thaumaturge is a detective-style adventure game set in early 1900s Warsaw, Poland. As a thaumaturge, the game's protagonist, Wiktor, can command supernatural beings to influence and affect people from another dimension. Although primarily centered around a well-written plot, the game also features a unique gothic setting and an interesting turn-based combat system.
Following on from the mission "Bastards of the Night" (in which Wiktor and Abaurycy capture the salutor, Lelek, before getting wildly drunk), Ligia finds the pair at the Szulski house doorsteps and asks for a private word with Wiktor. She states that an important gathering is taking place at The Imperial Hotel and that she would like Wiktor to go with her. First, however, he must smarten himself up to be presentable to Warsaw's high society.
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Preparing For The Soirée
Go To The Tailor To Collect The Evening Wear
The Tailor is located in Northern Śródmieście, which players can access through a carriage or tram station. Upon arriving in the district, head to the South-West to find a green-roofed building. Once inside, Wiktor can speak to the Tailor and ask for some evening wear, which will be delivered back to the Szulski residence.
There are several locked dialogue options for the Tailor, and these pertain to a side quest called "The Tailor's Dilemma." To access the side quest, players can use Wiktor's perception ability to locate several items around the room. These include the Tailor's Mannequin, Scribbled Patterns, Coffee Cups and an Imploring Note. Examining the objects will form The Tailor's Struggle conclusion, after which Wiktor can speak to the Tailor again to begin the side quest. Note that it is not necessary to complete this quest in order to progress with "The Reptilian Bash."
Visit A Barber (Optional)
If they wish, players can also customize Wiktor's hairstyle and facial hair. While this objective is optional, several characters will remark on Wiktor's ragged appearance if he does not visit the barber. Aside from this, though, it will not have a great effect on the progress of the mission.
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This mainly serves to introduce players to the possibility of altering Wiktor's appearance. The barber offers several interesting options which fit the time period and Warsaw style. Since the barber is located in the Powazki Cemetery district, it is worth paying Rasputin a visit to establish the bond with Lelek before heading to The Imperial Hotel, as a difficult combat encounter likely awaits.
Prepare For The Soirée
The next objective is to return home to prepare. This is best done in the evening. Upon returning to the Szulski residence, players will find a wrapped gift on the dining room table. Interacting with it will trigger a cutscene in which Liga and Wiktor get themselves ready for the party, with several dialogue options which can shape their relationship toward one another. None of these options will provide a great deviation in the mission, and it is not possible to refuse to attend.
With the pair dressed in their formal evening attire, they head to The Imperial Hotel, where they are greeted by a Concierge. Once inside, Wiktor notices a Wild Salutor roaming among the crowd, and realizes that the soirée presents a perfect opportunity for him to catch it.
At The Soirée
Find The Person With The Flaw That The Wild Salutor Is Seeking
Ligia heads upstairs while Wiktor can wander around the foyer entrance and speak to some of the guests. The first one, standing directly in front of Wiktor, is Sergei. He and his friends intend to find themselves mistresses for the night, accidentally letting slip that the governor of Warsaw's daughter, Sofya Skalon, is in attendance. They also make crude remarks about Ligia. Wiktor can berate them for their comments, or threaten them if his Pride level is high enough.
In either case, they dismiss Wiktor as a lunatic, and he can continue exploring the area. Elsewhere, Sofya Skalon and her friends are gathered in a corner next to some bird cages. They reveal that they are impressed with Wiktor as a Thaumaturge, and want to see a demonstration of his abilities. It is possible to examine several Traces around the bird cages behind the women before talking to them again to reveal that they had been secretly tampering with them.
Wiktor can also exchange his secret for another one at the expense of growing Pride, to which the girls reveal that none of their fathers know they are at the soirée. With the conversation complete, the ladies will head upstairs. As they do, though, they leave a Trace behind in the form of a fan on the ground where they were standing. Examining the dropped fan will unlock new dialogue options when conversing with Sofya later on.
Find Svetlana In Her Apartment
With these interactions complete (or not), players can head upstairs to meet with Svetlana. She is in apartment 237, at the far end of the northern-reaching corridor. Along the way, Wiktor will encounter Konechkin for a brief conversation, though it is relatively inconsequential to the outcome of this specific mission. Inside the apartment, Svetlana is in the center of the room talking with guests. Wiktor can confront her and state that he is aware of her links to his deceased father.
Follow Svetlana's Thoughts
Svetlana then heads out to the balcony, where the player can continue the conversation in private. However, before heading to the balcony, there are many other interactive elements and characters around the apartment, including several Traces in Svetlana's private quarters and bedroom. These include the Tiled Stove (which contains a burned letter), the Bed itself, some Melted Candles, a Travel Chest, and a String of Pearls located in her en-suite dressing room. Together, these clues will form the conclusion "All of Svetlana's Fears." Gathering this informtion will enable Wiktor to continue the conversation with Svetlana on the balcony much more effectively.
During the conversation, Svetlana reveals that she has something important for Wiktor. After speaking with her, players can retrieve this item from her en-suite room again. Inside the safe, players will be able to retrieve Letters that were exchanged between Svetlana and Wiktor's Father.
Find Out More About Sofya's Companions
Back inside the main area of the apartment, Wiktor can also talk to Sofya Skalon, standing alone near the column in the center of the room. Sofya challenges Wiktor to a game of "truth or dare" but in doing so, reveals that the Flaw is contained within her. Wiktor can continue with the game, knowing that he will encounter Sofya during the seance.
The game consists of Wiktor exploring the room and finding Traces related to Sofya and her friends. The items which he can examine include: a Decorative Vase, Decorative Sofa, an Ashtray, an Empty Glass, Plucked Leaves, a Chair and the Crystal Mirror. These will provide Wiktor with secrets about all of Sofya's friends, and he can then choose which he would like to share with her.
Attend The Seance
Before attending the Seance, players can speak with Ligia, who is involved in a business meeting with two gentlemen who attempt to belittle her. Wiktor can choose to stand up for her, or assert himself as the leader of the family company at her expense. Conversing further with Ligia, Wiktor is reminded of the name of the Salutor, Veles. It is also possible to speak with Madame Samira before the seance begins, and she reveals her disdain towards Wiktor as a thaumaturge. However, examining the Mysterious Book behind her will trigger a cutscene in which it is revealed that Madame Samia is, herself, a thaumaturge as well. She tries to warn Wiktor from attempting to catch Veles during the seance, and will provide him with the Fool tarot card in order to summon him to the table.
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When the seance is ready to begin, either a cutscene will trigger, or the chairs around the seance table will become interactive. Upon starting the scene, it is quickly revealed that Sofya is not who she appears to be. She can now be goaded into revealing the Flaw that she is carrying. Once Sofya snaps, a combat sequence will initiate, in which players must defeat a total of five enemies. With the help of Upyr, Bukavac, and Lelek, this shouldn't be an overly difficult encounter.
Once Sofya has been defeated and freed from the Flaw, Wiktor returns to the normal world, and is asked to leave the hotel. Wiktor heads home with Ligia, where he is given the chance to apologize to her for causing such a scene. This concludes the quest and starts the next mission in the main story: "Taming Darkness."
The Thaumaturge
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 76 /100 Critics Rec: 71%
- Released
- March 4, 2024
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Fool's Theory
- Publisher(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
